OWSD PhD Fellowships help women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and science- and technology-lagging countries to earn a doctorate in the natural sciences, engineering, and technology. The fellowships are run by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), hosted at TWAS in Trieste, Italy, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The fellowship can be taken full-time at a host institution in another country of the Global South, or as a sandwich programme split between the home country and a host institute. It covers tuition (waived by the host), a monthly living allowance, airfare, a yearly study/research visit where relevant, and a special-needs/attendance allowance, typically for up to 4 years. More than 60 countries are on the eligible list. Application cycles open about once a year, with a representative closing date around 31 July (est.). Treat the date here as an estimate and confirm current eligibility, host options, and deadlines on the OWSD website.
Identify an eligible host institution in the Global South and apply to OWSD in the annual call.
Two modes exist: full-time at a Southern host institute abroad, or sandwich (registered at home, with research visits to a host abroad). Securing host acceptance strengthens the application.
60+ eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other science-and-technology-lagging regions (see the OWSD list)
OWSD selects fellows on academic merit, the quality and feasibility of the research proposal, the suitability of the host institution, and the likely contribution to science capacity and gender balance in the applicant's home country and region. A limited number of fellowships are awarded each cycle.
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) is an international programme unit of UNESCO, hosted by TWAS in Trieste, Italy. It promotes women in science in the developing world and runs PhD fellowships funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Doctoral fellowships for women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and science-and-technology-lagging countries to earn a PhD in STEM at a host institution in the Global South, run by OWSD with Sida funding.
Tuition (waived by the host), a monthly living allowance, airfare, study/research visits where relevant, and a special-needs/attendance allowance, typically for up to 4 years.
Women scientists who are nationals of one of the 60+ eligible countries, hold a relevant MSc, and are pursuing a PhD in the natural sciences, engineering, or technology.
Full-time means studying at a Southern host institute abroad; sandwich means registering at a home institution while making research visits to a host abroad.
A monthly subsistence allowance set by the host country — often around ~$300–$500 (est.) per month. Confirm the current figure on the OWSD pages.
More than 60 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other science-and-technology-lagging regions; OWSD publishes the full list.
You apply with a host preference/acceptance; securing acceptance at an eligible Southern host institution strengthens your application.
Typically up to 4 years of doctoral study, depending on the programme and progress.
No — the PhD must be undertaken at an eligible host institution in the Global South, not in the Global North.
Cycles open about once a year, with a representative closing date around 31 July; the 2026 date here is an estimate. Check the OWSD website.
Yes — OWSD is an international programme unit of UNESCO, hosted by TWAS in Trieste, Italy, with the PhD fellowships funded by Sweden's Sida.
On the OWSD website, which lists eligible countries, host options, coverage, and the current deadline.